Lee Tamahori Tagged Articles at Cinematical

It looks like the marketing machine is at full tilt for Nicolas Cage's upcoming thriller Next. Already we have had the trailer and some poster art that was less than eye-catching, but now there is a fancy new website. There are plenty of bells and whistles, including do-it-yourself ESP tests, the promise of a "Nuclear Countdown" game, and something vaguely titled "Experience". Next centers on Cage, a man who has the ability to travel through time and is being hunted by some shadowy government types -- is there any other kind? As if that was not enough, all the while he is trying to prevent the death of his girlfriend (Jessica Biel) and stop a nuclear annihilation. Also, Julianne Moore has something to do with it, and Peter Falk, TV's Columbo, also has a role in the film.

Directed by Lee Tamahori (XXX), the story is based on Philip K. Dick's The Golden Man, but the script was adapted by one of the writers of Navy Seals so I'm thinking it could go either way; even Patrick and Scott seemed undecided about the whole thing. In the end I guess it really doesn't matter, Cage seems to be going for the title of "Hardest Working Man in Show Business" so it will not take long before he is onto another film, and then another, and another. As for Next, it's currently scheduled to drop in theaters on April 27.

No matter how much crap Nicolas Cage throws at the screen, I still consider him one of the most inventive and exciting actors working today. His performances in Moonstruck, Leaving Las Vegas, Honeymoon In Vegas, The Rock, Wild at Heart, Bringing Out The Dead, Adaptation, and one of the best comedies of all time, Raising Arizona, are great enough to make you wish he would be a little choosier with his roles. The guy can still do great work, as he did in the unfairly overlooked The Weather Man, (not to be confused with Cage's The Wicker Man or The Family Man), but I always fear he's one or two movies away from becoming a joke. So it is with a heavy heart that I bring you the poster for his new project Next, which is exactly what I said when I read about the movie.

Next was directed by Lee Tamahori, best known for XXX: State of the Union, Die Another Day, and getting arrested for soliciting a prostitute while dressed as a woman. On the plus side, it does have Jessica Biel, who is so hot I can't look directly at her. And Julianne Moore is also in it, who I generally like but who is no stranger to unintentionally hilarious performances herself (Just crack a beer and rent Freedomland - hoo boy!). Next releases on April 27, and you can check out the trailer here. Cage stars as a Las Vegas showroom magician (what is it with him and Vegas movies?) who can see a few minutes into the future. (Reminds me of that old Saturday Night Live sketch with Christopher Walken -- "Ed Glosser, Trivial Psychic"). The plot concerns a terrorist group threatening to blow up Los Angeles, and Moore's character captures Cage's character in hopes of using his mind power to stop the destruction. The script is based on the Philip K. Dick story The Golden Man. Dick adaptations have made for some awesome movies - see Blade Runner and Total Recall, and some horrible ones - see Paycheck, which this movie reminds me of right down to their eerily similar posters. Put the two up next to each other on your screen and see for yourself.

As I watched this rather flashy new trailer for Paramount's sci-fi thriller Next, I found myself reminiscing over some old pals. Hey! There's Butterfly Effect and Paycheck! Ah look, it's Minority Report! Well, some of those comparisons might be unfair, considering that Next is based on a story called The Golden Man, which comes from Philip K. Dick, author of both Paycheck and Minority Report. (The Butterfly bit was my own revelation.)

From Lee Tamahori, the director of Along Came a Spider, Die Another Day and xXx: State of the Union, Next stars Nicolas Cage as a man who can see into his own future. Needless to say, this skill causes all sorts of problems, both internally and externally. Also along for the mayhem are Julianne Moore, Jessica Biel, Peter Falk and Thomas Kretschmann. Check out the trailer and see if this one will command your $9.00 come April 27. I think it looks pretty nifty, plus it comes from a rather colorful trio of screenwriters -- so I'm pretty curious to see how it all turns out.

(And no disrespect to the man, but does Nicolas Cage have to be in every movie released these days? Take a year off, man!)

While the search continues for James Bond's leading lady in Casino Royale (even though filming has already begun), one unlikely candidate may have just stepped up to the plate. Lee Tamahori, who directed Die Another Day, was arrested on January 8th on prostitution charges. Apparently, Tamahori was dressed as a woman when he solicited sex from an undercover police officer.

Tamahori, who also directed XXX: State of the Union, Along Came a Spider and Mulholland Falls, could spend up to 6 months in jail and face a $1000 fine if convicted. Seeing as Mark Geragos (Michael Jackson, anyone?) is his attorney, I'd expect Tamahori's excuse to fall into the "They said they needed a Bond girl...and fast" category. Okay, I know I'm joking around here and all, but we really do have a serious problem on our hands. I mean, why on earth are famous Hollywood types (Hugh Grant?) so cheap when it comes to their prostitutes? Perhaps someone should call Oprah. We, as a community, demand an answer.